Warner Music Group And Tencent Enter Strategic Partnership In China

November 13, 2014 at 3:32 AM (PT)

WARNER MUSIC GROUP and TENCENT HOLDINGS LIMITED have signed a landmark agreement that includes the industry’s first-ever master distribution partnership between a major music company and a leading Internet provider in MAINLAND CHINA. Under the terms of the deal, TENCENT will distribute WMG’s repertoire and manage new releases to all legitimate local CHINESE audio services, with the exception of MAINLAND CHINA mobile carriers with which WARNER MUSIC CHINA will continue to develop partnerships. WMG will oversee relationships with all global service providers, as well as drive all marketing and promotional activities across the region.

The partnership also covers the extension of commercial opportunities for WMG’s music across TENCENT platforms, including the country’s flagship QQ MUSIC streaming service. Further, TENCENT will provide promotional opportunities to WMG’s artists through TENCENT’s video and music streaming services, mobile and PC games, and social media capabilities, including its leading messaging platform QQ which currently has 820 million active users in China.

Today’s announcement follows another key milestone for WMG, the recent completion of the company’s acquisition of GOLD TYPHOON’s recorded music catalog and artist roster in the GREATER CHINA Region, reinforcing WMG’s domestic repertoire base in one of the music industry’s highest-potential growth markets.

WMG Pres./international STU BERGEN said, “Since expanding our presence in CHINA with the acquisition of GOLD TYPHOON, we have focused on establishing market-moving partnerships with innovative players such as TENCENT that are successfully harnessing the incredible demand for music in one of the world's most rapidly changing territories. Our exceptional teams have forged this partnership to help advance licensed music services and create new artist development possibilities. Providing music fans with access to high-quality music, and the right mix of regional and global artists, will be integral to the growth of the digital music sector in CHINA."

TENCENT Sr. EVP DOWSON TONG said, “Leveraging WMG’s rich portfolio of artists, this strategic partnership will offer fans in CHINA an extensive stream of entertaining and high-quality music content that is well-managed and protected under the license agreement. We are looking forward to integrating the music from WMG’s talented artists into our products and services, bringing the user experience and enjoyment to a new level.”

WARNER MUSIC CHINA CEO ELAINE FENG said, “As the industry continues to transform, it’s imperative that we drive bold new solutions that recognize the value of music. Enabling a deeper engagement between artist and fan is at the heart of this partnership and we are excited to create highly immersive music experiences that will foster the growth and enhance the vibrancy of the CHINESE music market.”